Nut-lock.



No. 771,935. PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

H. L. REYNOLDS. NUT LOCK APPLIGATION FILED APR. 7, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. REYNOLDS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,935, dated October11, 1904. Application filed April '7, 1902. Serial No. 101,652. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the UnitedStates,and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn,county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedLock-Nut, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in lock-nuts or means by which nutsmay be prevented from becoming gradually loosened by use, and comprisesthe novel features which will be hereinafter described, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The drawings accompanying herewith illustrate my invention in formswhich are now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a bolt and nut constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same bolt andnut. Figs. 8, 4, and 5 are end views of modified forms of my invention.Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a bolt and nut such as shown in Fig.5; and Fig. 7 is an end View of a form to which the locking plug or keymay be shaped, if desired.

In carrying out my invention I form the bolt and nut so that thethreaded portion of the bolt, which is engaged by the nut, and a portionat least of the opening in the nut are non-circular in outline, thenon-circular portions of bolt and nut being capable of being broughtopposite, so as to form a recess within which may be inserted a plug orkey, of ductile metal or equivalent material, which may then be expandedby pressure, so that it is forced into close contact with the walls ofthe recess, preferably including as a part thereof the threads of thebolt, so that it is impossible to remove the plug or turn the nut uponthe bolt without deforming or shearing the plug.

The term non-circular as herein used is intended to define a surface orsurfaces which are not generated by the revolution of surfaces havingthe axis of the bolt as their axis of rotation. This term is intended toapply to the bottom wall of the recess in the nut as well as to theperipheral wall of said recess.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the bolt A is shown as having a single longitudinalgroove 0 extending substantially throughout the extent of the threadedportion thereof, the same being the method preferred by me for securingthe necessary non-circular outline of the bolt. This may, however,extend beyond the threads or over only a part of the threaded portion,the essential thing being that there should be a groove or otherequivalent formation which makes the bolt non-circular at the pointcorresponding with the location of the non-circular part of the nut whenit is in the position in which it is desired to lock it. This groove isin all cases herein shown as extending slightly below the base of thethreads, which, although preferable, is not essential. A single groovemay be used, as is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or a plurality ofgrooves, as in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the nut B is shown as having a recess F formed in itsouter face by the flange b, said recess corresponding in shape with theshape of the outside of the nut, which in this case is shown ashexagonal. The shape of this recess is, however, not the essential thingexcept that its surfaces should not be surfaces of revolution having theaxis of the bolt as their axis, but should have projections orirregularities adapted to be engaged by the plug to prevent the nutturning about the plug. In Fig. 3 the same result is secured by makingthe outer wall of the recess F of an irregular or wavy circular outline.The particular manner in which the irregularities of its outline aresecured is immaterial. When the nut has reached the position in which itis desired to lock it, a plug D of any suitable material which willexpand or flow under pressure is inserted in the recess F opposite thegroove O and is then expanded or caused to flow by the blow of a hammeror the use of a punch until it spreads and closely fills the adjacentportion of the recess, including the groove C and preferably shortportions of the threads of the bolt on each side of the groove. Theentrance of the plug in the groove C prevents rotation of the plug aboutthe bolt and the non-circular character of the outer wall of the recessF prevents rotation of the nut about the plug, while its engagement withthe threads of the bolt prevents its being pulled out or movedlengthwise the bolt. The plug may be made of any material which willflow under pressure, so as to fill the groove and threads, butpreferably of such soft metals as lead, zinc, copper, alloys, or even ofsoft iron or steel. The particular metal or combination of metals to beemployed will depend upon the degree of security desired in any case,the severity of the service, and the ideas of the person in charge. Insome cases, if desired, the material of which the plug is formed may bemelted and poured into place, although generally this would be neitherdesirable nor practicable.

In Fig. I a form is shown in which there are a plurality of grooves C inthe bolt and a plurality of recesses F in the nut, the latter extendingonly part of the way about the nut and each being separated from theadjacent ones by a sectionof the nut of normal thickness. 1 have shownthe number of grooves in the bolt as differing by one from the number ofrecesses in the nut, by reason of which at least one of the recesses isat all times opposite a groove, and the nut may thus be locked in anyposition. By making the recesses of suflicient extent two plugs may beemployed, as is shown in Fig. 4:.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a form which in one sense is a reversal ofthat shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Figs. 5 and 6 the groove F is formed inthe nut and a short section 0 of the end of the bolt is made ofnon-circular outline. I have also shown herein the use of a plurality ofgrooves, which may also be employed with the form shown in Figs. 1 and2, if desired.

In Fig. 7 is shown a shape of plug which has a rib (Z formed thereonbefore insertion and adapted to enter the groove in the bolt. This mayin some cases be desirable, but is not a necessity, as the plug may bereadily expanded so as to fill the groove whatever its original shape.

The plug may, if desired, be made as a ring which its over the end ofthe bolt and within the recess in the face of the nut, in which case itmay be made to wholly [ill the recess when expanded into place. Thiswould chieii y be advantageous in improving the appearance of the.completed assemblage.

The groove in the bolt may be pressed therein when the bolt is made andwill not add to its cost. Similarly the recess in the nut may beproduced by stamping in the same operation by which the nut is made andwill add nothing to the cost of the nut except the slight additionalweight of metal required.

In using my lock-nut the nut is turned up to the point desired whateverthat may be and without reference to bringing any part thereof intoregistry with any part of the bolt. A plug is then inserted opposite thegroove in the bolt and expanded by the use of a punch or any otherconvenient device until it expands into the groove and threads of thebolt and into close contact with the wall of the recess in the nut.WVhen it is desired to remove the nut, this may be done by placing awrench on the nut and applying power to it until that portion of theplug lying within the groove is sheared from the remainder. If thehardness of the material of the plug has been rightly gaged, this may bereadily done, and yet the plug be sufliciently hard to prevent the nutfrom working loose by service. WVhen it is desired to replace the nut,the same plug may be used over again, if desired.

The construction of this lock-nut is such that it adds no appreciableamount to the cost of bolt or nut and is so simple that it may beunderstood and properly used by the commonest laborer. It is alsocapable of being locked in any position on the bolt and of being removedand replaced or readjusted as often as need be. It does not materiallyenlarge or weaken either nut or bolt nor does it have any movable orsmall parts which are likely to become injured or lost. Neither is itnecessary in manufacturing it to employ costly or complicated processesor machinery or that the workmanship be any more accurate than iscustomary in similar work.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a bolt having alongitudinal groove, of a nut having a noncircular recess extendinginwardly from its outer face and outwardly from its bore, and alocking-plug of expandible metal adapted to be inserted within saidrecess and expanded by pressure against the walls of the recess and intosaid groove after the nut has been set up.

2. The combination with a bolt having a longitudinal groove of a nuthaving a noncircular recess in its outer face extending entirely aroundits bore, and a locking-plug of expandible metal adapted to be insertedwithin said recess and expanded by pressure against the walls of therecess and into said groove, after the nut has been set up.

3. The combination with a bolt having a longitudinal groove within itsthreaded portion, of a nut having a recess extending from its outer faceinwardly and from its bore out- In testimony WhereofIhave hereuntosigned Wardly, the outer or peripheral Wall of said my name in thepresence of two subscribing IO recess beingnon-circular in outline andnot Witnesses.

undercut, said recess being adapted to receive a locking plug or key ofa ductile metal HENRY REYNOLDS which by pressure may be expanded intosaid Witnesses:

groove and recess to lock bolt and nut against BARBARA GAMBEIS,

turning. HUGO LOUIS BEIL.

